One of the most memorable road trips this year took me to Yellowstone National Park in spring which is a perfect time to visit to avoid the biggest crowds and enjoy decent weather. While in Yellowstone I talked with a couple that also visited in winter and said they loved it. Really you can visit Yellowstone during any season and enjoy it.

Find out what is so special about the world’s first national park. While planning my visit to Yellowstone I kept finding amazing photos and videos of the wonders of Yellowstone park.

Visitors typically plan to spend a few days in Yellowstone but you can also see a lot at Yellowstone in one day. The place is magical because of the incredible number of natural features to see. Think of it as nature’s amusement park.

And think about taking a trip to Yellowstone in winter or off-season to explore the park when fewer tourists are around and accommodation around Yellowstone is cheaper. America’s first national park turns into a winter wonderland. Yellowstone park really is a must visit for anyone planning a road trip anywhere near Wyoming or Montana.

My trip to Yellowstone was a detour on my road trip to Calgary from Lafayette Louisiana. Stopping to visit Yellowstone didn’t add too many miles to the trip and it was totally worth the money. Thinking about it now I wish I spent a few more days at the park but that also gives me a great excuse to visit again.

5 BIG Reasons why you MUST go to Yellowstone!

Wildlife wow at Yellowstone

Abundant wildlife spotting opportunities await you in Yellowstone National Park. Some of the most amazing animals in the world can be seen at Yellowstone. Grizzly bears, black bears, bison, and elk are actually common sights in the park. I was amazed to see a grizzly mama bear with her two cubs one afternoon. And the bison seem to be everywhere. Moose are not so commonplace in the park so it takes more patience to see a moose at Yellowstone.

Visit Yellowstone’s epic waterfalls

Do you love waterfalls? Get your waterfall fix in Yellowstone. From the amazingly graceful Mammoth Falls to the thundering Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone you can see the most beautiful waterfalls in winter or summer.

Gawk at geysers in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone contains half of the world’s thermal features, around 10,000 thermal wonders to observe, including over 300 geysers. These fascinating geysers, mud pots, and all things thermal will amaze you in Yellowstone.

Take a look at this video of Anemone Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin. I was standing on the boardwalk and the water began dancing before me.

Now check out this amazing video of the Grand Geyser! Maybe everyone knows about Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone but Grand Geyser is actually the tallest predictable geyser in the world. Every 6 to 7 hours is showtime for Grand Geyser.

Amazing hot springs in Yellowstone

Did you know that the largest hot spring in the United States is located in Yellowstone National Park? The stunningly beautiful Grand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin is a must see in Yellowstone.

If you get stuck in a traffic jam at Yellowstone it is likely due to wildlife crossing the road or wildlife close to the road. When I visited Yellowstone in spring a mama grizzly bear with two cubs drew attention.

Park officials directed traffic and made sure people stayed in their cars. An amazing number of tourists get out of their cars to photograph bears way too close. Stay at least 100 yards away from bears.

Watching the river roll by and fly fishermen clad in hip waders casting lines is how I spent time in a Yellowstone traffic jam.

What about winter at Yellowstone? Most of the park roads close from early November to late April. The only road open year round is from the Northeast entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs.

So how do you get around Yellowstone in the winter? Snowmobiles and snowcoaches will get you around the park from December through March. Skiiing and snowshoeing are great winter activities at Yellowstone.

Teddy Roosevelt called Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway (US 14/16/20) the ‘most scenic 52 miles in the United States’.

12 Comments

I remember being between Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park one night, turning off the lights, and lying on the roof of the car. Never, ever have I seen such a brilliant sky with so many stars. Way more gorgeous than any photo or movie I have seen.

September is a perfect time to go, fewer crowds and the weather is still beautiful. I hear you on ‘enough of winter in Canada’ and that’s why I’m headed south at the end of fall :) Thanks for reading and hope you do plan your trip to Yellowstone!

Yes go! There are amazing wildlife spotting opportunities at Yellowstone. PLUS the incredible hot springs, geysers, and waterfalls. It’s so worth it to make it happen. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

The good news is you will appreciate your visit to Yellowstone that much more after waiting the extra time :) It is so worth the time, effort, and money to get there. Hope the universe conspires to bring you to Yellowstone very soon! Thanks for you comment and happy travels!

Thank you Ryan. Yellowstone is a photographer’s paradise, abundant wildlife was one of the main draws for me, then I was mesmerized by all the thermal activity. Firehole drive is really cool, amazing place to visit!

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